Strategic subterranean underpass  and method

ABSTRACT

An underpass under an intersection has a first underground level for pedestrians, accessible by one or more pedestrian accesses from the street level, a second underground level for vehicles, accessible by one or more vehicle accesses from the street level, wherein the first underground level enables pedestrians to safely cross a street underneath the intersection, and contains establishments for the pedestrians, and the second underground level provides vehicle parking. In an embodiment, tunnels connect the levels under adjacent intersections. An improved method has the steps of installing one or more pedestrian levels below ground having pedestrian accesses at selected street corners on the street above, installing establishments in the one or more pedestrian levels, and installing one or more vehicle levels below the pedestrian levels having one or more vehicle accesses at the side of streets above, wherein vehicle levels provide vehicle parking.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/755,959 filed Jan. 23, 2013 the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an improved method formanagement of city planning More specifically, the invention relates todevelopment of strategic subterranean underpasses that revitalizebusiness districts and improve local economies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shopping streets have problems of accessibility because of high level ofpromiscuity between pedestrians and motorists that slows trafficespecially during rush hours. It results in inefficient use of peoples'time and excessive energy consumption because the street level is sharedby pedestrians, vehicle commuters, buses and other traffic. The sharingof the road surface for crosswalks delays both the pedestrians anddrivers as they wait for the other having the right-of-way.

Shoppers may avoid shopping street as it is an open air activity,subject to vagaries of the weather, and the weather can play a majorrole on the decision making Often to avoid inclement weather shopperswill attend at malls instead. However, the advent of malls has hollowedout shopping streets and districts within cities that are generallyviewed as providing life and activity in the city, and are a source oftourists.

It is also a security concern when people cross the streets populated byvehicles. In groups, people tend to rely on the judgment of others inmaking the decision to cross, and vehicles may not obey the signalsresulting in a collision between a vehicle and pedestrian.

Shopping space is limited to what is available at ground level andperhaps on a second level. Additional shopping store spaces which meansmore tax revenue for the city, and more shopping within a given area forconsumers.

Space is a valuable commodity within the shopping streets area, oftenfought over by merchants who hope to receive the best location. For abusiness, location is often the most important factor. For example,Fifth Avenue in New York City, one of the top shopping streets in theworld costs on average $7,500 square feet. Due to the shortage of space,the prices are bid up, often out of the range of anything but the mostestablished enterprises.

Shopping streets are intended to be appealing to residents and touristsalike, and often combine historical buildings with modern architectureand interior design. The contrast between the old and the new offers aspectacular view for the shoppers. However, historical buildings areoften protected and new development restricted, with the result thatcreating new space in a shopping district is relatively difficult andvery expensive.

Therefore there is a need for a method of improving vehicular trafficand congestion while providing additional retail space in shoppingdistricts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed, in part, to a method of improvingvehicular traffic and congestion while simultaneously providingpedestrians/consumers with greater freedom in accessing shopping centersand stores. The methods provided and described herein install tunnelaccess to pedestrians at targeted street corners whereupon pedestrianconsumers can descend below the street level, where vehicles arelocated, and allow the pedestrians to walk leisurely from shopping storeto shopping store without the fear or delay of roadway and vehiculartraffic.

The methods provided herein enable city planner to incorporate thesemethods into their city development plans which will ultimately assistin growing the local and regional economies, increase job growth,decrease pedestrian injury and fatalities and decrease overall vehiculartraffic and congestion on the roadways, thus, decreasing the amount ofair and noise pollution generated by idling vehicles.

An improved method of city planning and urban development has the stepsof installing one or more pedestrian levels below ground havingpedestrian accesses at selected street corners on the street above, forenabling allow pedestrians to traverse by foot to a second basementlevel underneath vehicles in traffic, wherein said vehicles areunimpeded by pedestrian traffic, wherein said pedestrians are notrequired to cross streets, and wherein said pedestrians access desiredshopping centers and stores via said tunnels and tunnel accesses,installing establishments in the one or more pedestrian levels, andinstalling one or more vehicle levels below the pedestrian levels havingone or more vehicle accesses at the side of streets above, whereinvehicle levels provide vehicle parking

In one embodiment a further step of installing pedestrian tunnels toconnect pedestrian levels under adjacent intersections is added. Anotherembodiment adds the step of installing vehicle tunnels to connectvehicle levels under adjacent intersections. A further embodiment addsthe step of having first and a second vehicle accesses wherein the firstvehicle access is for ingress of vehicles to the vehicle level, and thesecond vehicle access is for egress of vehicles from the vehicle level.

The first vehicle access may be on a first side of the street having atraffic direction and the traffic direction flows into the ingress, andthe second vehicle access may be on an opposite side of the streethaving an opposite traffic direction, such that the traffic from theegress flows into the opposite traffic direction. In one embodiment thevehicle ingress and egress each consume three parking spots on thestreet. In one embodiment the further step of identifying a shoppingstreet having crosswalks is added.

An underpass under an intersection has a first underground level forpedestrians, accessible by one or more pedestrian accesses from thestreet level, a second underground level for vehicles, accessible by oneor more vehicle accesses from the street level, wherein the firstunderground level enables pedestrians to safely cross a streetunderneath the intersection, and contains establishments for thepedestrians, and the second underground level provides vehicle parking

The underpass may have tunnels connecting the pedestrian levels ofadjacent intersections, and tunnels connecting the vehicular levels ofadjacent intersections. In one embodiment the second underground levelis accessed by first and second vehicle accesses, the first access foringress of vehicles, and the second access for egress of vehicles fromthe second underground level. The pedestrian accesses may be selectedfrom the group consisting of ramps, stairs, escalators and elevators.

The establishments may be selected from the group consisting ofcommercial establishments, educational establishments, communityestablishments, and entertainment establishments, and the secondunderground level may have commercial establishments accessible byvehicle.

The vehicle ingress and egress may be on the same side of the street, oron opposite sides of the street. In one embodiment each of the vehicleingress and egress consumes three parking spots on the street. In anembodiment the one or more pedestrian levels are lined with commercialestablishments, and the one or more vehicle levels have commercialestablishments for vehicles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the invention used on adjacent street intersections in apopulation-dense area.

FIG. 2 depicts an overview of the basic configuration of the inventionwith a pedestrian tunnel on the first underground level and a vehicletunnel on the second underground level.

FIG. 3 depicts a broad overview of an intersection having pedestrianentrances to the underground tunnel.

FIG. 4 illustrates a shopping street with vehicle entrance and exit forvehicle access to the vehicle level.

FIG. 5 illustrates the tunnel layout below the street level, connectingadjacent intersections.

FIG. 6 illustrates a detail view of the tunnel sections.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the vehicleentrance and exit are both on one side of the street, and the pedestrianaccess is on other sides.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein pedestrianaccesses include stairs and ramps for wheelchairs.

FIG. 9 illustrates a side cutaway view of the invention showingpedestrians crossing underneath roadways in a tunnel accessed attargeted street corners. The second level is for vehicle parking.

FIG. 10 illustrates a side cutaway view of the invention showingpedestrians crossing underneath roadways in a tunnel accessed attargeted street corners. The second level is for vehicle parking withramps for access.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein pedestrianaccesses include stairs and ramps for wheelchairs.

FIG. 12 illustrates a top-down view of the intersection wherein vehiclesaccess by ramps and pedestrians use dedicated pedestrian access.

FIG. 13 illustrates a few city blocks with intersections connectingthem, with the invention in use on a number of adjacent intersections.

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of the layout of the pedestrian levelunderground.

FIG. 15 illustrates a cut-away view of the underground pedestrian levelbelow the vehicles waiting at the intersection.

FIG. 16 illustrates a number of intersections incorporating theinvention, wherein the tops of buildings are used for green growth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an underpass and an improved method.

Modern cities are synonymous to movement because nothing should standstill; therefore, urban planning should never favor pedestrians overmotorists in shopping street, and there should be accommodation for bothbecause motorists count among the best shoppers. Traffic must be fluentin everywhere at any time, including shopping street area. Toaccommodate equally motorists and pedestrians in the shopping street,the urban design has to put focus on spatial segregation where thereshould be less promiscuity between motorist and pedestrians.

A sustainable and viable shopping street should rely, at 20% of itseconomy, on its own residents that means, at the upper floors in eachbuilding, having luxury rental apartments available for youngprofessional couples.

It is therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide anurban plan for shopping street should focus on design that, incorporatessidewalks and underpasses into the urban fabric; improves the flow oftraffic by promoting spatial segregation between motorists andpedestrians; builds the infrastructure for a complete spatialsegregation where pedestrians will have a convenient alternative tocrossing the street; attracts more visitors day and night onto theshopping street area; contributes to a festival atmosphere; creates alink between sidewalks and underpasses along the street, landscape andcity lights; creates a viable and vibrant community where people canstudy, work, play, and shop.

The high price of space in shopping streets explains the necessity tohave the best team of managers to control its sustainable developmentbecause it contributes to a good percentage of the city tax revenue.Where the City urban planners take advantage of every available space inthe shopping street to make it more attractive, more secure and moreprofitable for the citizens, there is less pressure to raise taxes andthe money saved is used to boost the economy within the community.

In an attempt to try to inspire the city authority for a bolder approachabout urban planning of the shopping streets, the alternative urbanplanning that is put forward in this study has proposed a new trend inurban planning in order to revitalize shopping streets.

In a preferred embodiment, the strategic development plan for shoppingstreets around the world is part of a project to revitalize the socialand economic network of the business sector and to improve the qualityof life for people living within the area. To begin, it promotesphysical activity with new corridor of many kilometers of sidewalkswhere people can walk and shop without having to share space withmotorists. Second of all, it creates a festival atmosphere that tends toattract more shoppers inside the shopping street perimeter with animatedunderpasses. Finally, it allows the city to raise more tax revenue bycreating or making new rental commercial spaces with each underpass thatcan attract tenths of new shopping stores.

The claimed method allows a better integration of the two predominanttransport modes, walking and driving which are the economic engine ofany shopping street, in favoring spatial segregation between thepedestrians and the motorists. It also allows a more vibrant city withnew buildings that create a large corridor (in one embodiment ofapproximately 2 m width) that connects the underpasses from one andanother; so, people can walk and shop inside, in summer as well as inwinter. It also promotes future building above the underpasses withgreen roof equipped with solar panels where people can, for example,grow fruits and vegetables in order to put in place a more sustainableeconomic system.

The purpose of the invention is to make shopping districts and shoppingstreets safer and more efficient by organizing the traffic andpedestrians to follow separate, mutually-exclusive paths: shoppers usean underpass at the intersection instead of crossing the street crowdedwith motorists, wherein pedestrians are attracted to the undergroundspace by commercial establishments and festival atmosphere with theparticipation of local artists, that is available in all seasons. Itwill result in higher tax revenue by creating more commercial spaceunder the shopping street, and improvements in the safety of thecitizenry by improving the street safety.

The present invention addresses a long-felt need and addresses shortcomings in the prior art. Commercial space is a very expensive and rarecommodity along the shopping street, besides its high value in themarket economy, shopping street poses a security concern for family withyoung kids due to the omnipresence of the motorists at the streetintersection.

For example, the promiscuity between motorists and pedestrians at streetintersection jams the traffic and creates a lot of frustration amongusers of the street space. The strategic development plan for shoppingstreets around the world has solved all of these problems byimplementing a pedestrian path with underpass at every intersection toallow a link of continuity along the shopping street so a family withchildren will not need to share space with motorists who, in return,will enjoy a better flow of traffic. Pedestrian lights may be eliminatedentirely. As envisioned herein, in another preferred embodiment, theinvention also acts as an incentive to attract pedestrians to use theunderpasses at the street corner, a festival atmosphere is created withthe presence of shopping stores and showroom for local artists toperform right under the intersection. The pedestrians may be preventedfrom crossing at street level so that they access the undergroundspaces.

Turning now to the substance of FIGS. 1 to 16 and the preferredembodiments of the invention. FIG. 1 depicts the invention shown belowintersections 2 of a population-dense area, wherein the pedestrian level8 below ground is for pedestrians. The areas below intersections 2 areconnected by tunnels 10. Pedestrian access 12 in the form of ramps orstairs enable pedestrians to access the pedestrian level atintersections 2, while traffic 15 passes. The methods provide foroptimal space planning for better access of pedestrians in the shoppingdistricts.

With reference to FIG. 2, one or more levels exist below the streetlevel, such as a pedestrian level 8 accessible to pedestrians by access12 such as ramps or stairs, with vehicle access 22 via ramps to aseparate vehicle level 18. In this embodiment, the people are located at−1 level, with the cars at −2 level below ground. The lower levels maybe made available to cars for car-accessible commercial space andparking The pedestrian level 8 may contain common space forentertainment or walking about, as well as commercial access andstorefront space for commercial activity. The vehicle level 18 may havedrive-through or other commercial establishments as well, for access bythe vehicles by means of vehicle access 22. The street intersection 2 islocated above the pedestrian level 8. The underground nature of thespace provides shelter from the elements, and is suitable for both warmand cold climates.

FIG. 3 depicts a top-down view of an intersection having pedestrianaccess 12 on one axis of the intersection and vehicle access 22 onanother axis of the intersection 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the improved method of city planningIn FIG. 4 a is shown a shopping street, wherein an access 12, 22 may beimplemented with the elimination of 3 parking spaces 9 on each side fora total of 12 parking spaces 9 on both sides of the road, on either sideof the intersection. In the embodiment shown, two of these arepedestrian access 12 and two of these are vehicle access 22. Parking toreplace these spots may be created underground, accessible by thevehicle access 22.

FIG. 5 illustrates the tunnel access wherein each intersection isconnected to an adjacent intersection by tunnels 10. A single tunnel 10may be used, or two adjacent tunnels 10, each tunnel carrying traffic inone direction, with the separation between tunnels providing structuralsupport. Each pedestrian level 8 can have its own vocation depending onthe activity favored by the shopping center. As shown, in the pedestrianlevel 8 has an adults-only area 24, such as a nightclub, and agerestrictions are enforced during opening times. Moving adults-only areasto below ground beautifies the shopping street and enables the shoppingstreet to become more family-oriented, while allowing closer control ofpopulation related to adult activities. Shopping stores or kiosks 25 mayline the pedestrian levels 8 and tunnels 10, and a central space 26 thatcan be used as a show room, cafeteria, stage for local artists or otheractivities. There are hallways 28 around the side of the central space26, and the central space 26 may also be open and accessible for walkingthrough. In one embodiment the common area are kiosks or stores toprovide greater commercial floor space from the belowground area.Specifically, more designs, such as a metro transport system can bedesigned to incorporate the invention. FIG. 6 shows a detail view of thesecond underground parking level, showing the parking spots on eitherside of the tunnel 10.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention implemented in a shoppingintersection 2, wherein vehicle access 22 appears at the side of thedirectional lane so a driver can simply turn off and descend to thevehicle level for parking underground. Pedestrian access 12 is on allother street corners so pedestrians have easy access to shopping andentertainment on the pedestrian level below, and my safely cross thestreet. Underground are shopping stores and a showroom as an incentivefor pedestrians to use the tunnel access versus crossing at the streetcorner. In one embodiment, the street may forbid crossing to forcepedestrians to use the tunnels, to ease traffic flow which can be heldup by pedestrian crossings.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of an intersection exhibiting theinvention. Pedestrians enter the pedestrian level 8 through pedestrianaccess 12, which may consist of ramps 19 or stairs 20. In thisembodiment, pedestrian access is only available on one side of thestreet 28, which configuration may be chosen for further parking spaces9 on the far side of the street 28, or if the street 28 is one-way.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show cut-away view of the underground levels 8, 18 of theinvention, at perpendicular views to each other. FIG. 9 shows thepedestrian access 12 through ramps taking pedestrians to the pedestrianlevel 8 below the intersection 2. Below the pedestrian level is thevehicle level 18 for parking and vehicle services. The vehicle access 22ramps to the vehicle level 18 are perpendicular to the orientation ofthe pedestrian access 12, and accordingly the vehicle access 22 is notshown as it is oriented into and out of the figure, towards the viewer.In FIG. 10, the vehicle access 22 is shown with the pedestrian access inthe same plane thereto, which has benefits of reduced space requirementsand construction costs. Specifically, the illustrations show pedestrianscrossing underneath roadways in a tunnel accessed at targeted streetcorners. In this embodiment, there is no 3^(rd) level basement.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the three-tier embodiment envisioned for theimproved method, wherein each level provides for a type of pedestrianand motor-related traffic. At the street level, cars and shoppingpedestrians share the streets. At the −1 level underground, thepedestrian level 8 is shown wherein the accesses 12 are present at theside of the intersections, and tunnels 10 link intersections Lining theinside of the pedestrian level 8 is commercial space, which can be usedby shopping pedestrians. The pedestrians can travel underground for longdistances by means of the tunnels 10 (shown in FIG. 5), as far as thetunnels extend, in order to avoid rain and cold weather. As they travelthese distances they will patronize the commercial establishments thatare located within these corridors. In the −2 level underground, thevehicle level 18 is accessible only by car ramps and provides parkingand other commercial automotive services. There may be an elevator orstairs (not shown) to provide vehicle occupants with access to thepedestrian level 8. The underground parking of the vehicle level 18 hasthe benefit of freeing parking on the roadway for more moving lanes oftraffic, so as to avoid expensive street widening construction whentraffic outgrows the street volume and congestion results.

FIG. 11 shows a top view of another embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 12 shows the invention is use, with cars and other vehicles usingthe vehicle access 22 to access the vehicle level 18, and pedestriansusing the pedestrian access 12 to access the pedestrian level 8. In thisembodiment, there are only two vehicle accesses 22 to the vehicle level18, on opposite corners from one another, a first vehicle access 22 afor vehicles entering and another vehicle access 22 b for exitingvehicles.

FIG. 13 illustrates a top view of a neighborhood. Specifically, theillustration shows a top view of several blocks with some intersections2 featuring the invention. The neighborhood may contain a park 35 and acommunity pool 36. A public school 37 and a shopping street 38 are alsonearby. A single underground level underpass may be present atintersection 40, in order to augment the shopping area with heatedshopping for wintertime. Parking near the shopping street atintersection 42 may be augmented by a two-level underpass includingparking on a second level. A single underground level underpass may alsobe present near the park 35, community pool 36 and public school 37, inorder to protect children who need to cross the street from vehiculartraffic. These areas benefit from a certain population density due tothe high rise apartment buildings around, and pedestrians are employinguse of the tunnels, thus decreasing vehicular traffic on streets androadways.

FIG. 14 illustrates a layout for the commercial space within apedestrian level 8. The pedestrian level 8 is surrounded by walls 30 ofconcrete, built into the ground. Shopping stores or kiosks 25 may linethe pedestrian levels 8 and tunnels 10, and a central space 26 that canbe used as a show room, cafeteria, stage for local artists or otheractivities. There are hallways 28 around the side of the central space26, and the central space 26 may also be open and accessible for walkingthrough. The central space may be a larger commercial establishment, forwhich advertising may be present on the surface to indicate the presenceof the commercial establishment. In a residential area, a corner storeor community centre may be present underground, and monitoring can beassured by video surveillance so authorities may maintain order andparents may monitor their children on the way to and from school.

FIG. 15 shows a further view of the pedestrian level 8, with pedestrianaccess. The adjacent buildings 32 may be in communication with thepedestrian level 8 to allow people to cross the street without having tostep outside. Depending on space requirements, there may be more thanone pedestrian level and more than one vehicle level 18, for examplelevels −1 and −2 for pedestrians and levels −3 and −4 for vehicleparking and vehicle services.

Specifically, the underpass and tunnel accesses may be applied aroundpublic places where children are present. School crossing guards wouldnot be necessary where a safety underpass is located. In one embodiment,such an underpass is only accessible every 3^(rd) block, or every fewblock. Several underpasses may be connected by means of tunnels.

These are targeted for schools, public parks and local public streets.The motivation for constructing such a multi-level underpass in a familyarea may come from the building of a corner store or community center,for example. The underpasses and the area may be monitored byclosed-circuit camera, or live cameras on the Internet.

FIG. 16 shows a top-down view of the invention located at intersections2, wherein buildings have greenery on top to provide a furtherenvironmental benefit.

Certain advantages can be obtained in utilizing the present invention.Foremost, the invention allows safe coexistence of pedestrian andvehicular traffic in a shopping area. It also provides the furtherbenefit of more commercial space in locales attractive to businesses butwith limited growth potential due to historical buildings, for instance.Further benefits are shelter for pedestrians from foul weather, andfurther social interaction as a result of passing through undergroundpassages.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the aboveexamples, it will be understood that modifications and variations areencompassed within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, theinvention is limited only by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of installing an underpass below a street intersection, comprising the steps of: a. installing one or more pedestrian levels below the street intersection having pedestrian accesses at selected street corners, for enabling pedestrians to access the one or more pedestrian levels underneath the street intersection, wherein said vehicles at the street intersection are unimpeded by pedestrian traffic and pedestrians are not required to cross streets; b. installing establishments in the one or more pedestrian levels, wherein said pedestrians access establishments within the one or more pedestrian levels; and c. installing one or more vehicle levels below the one or more pedestrian levels, the vehicle levels having one or more vehicle accesses at the side of streets above, wherein vehicle levels contain a vehicle parking area.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of installing pedestrian tunnels to connect pedestrian levels under adjacent intersections.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of installing vehicle tunnels to connect vehicle levels under adjacent intersections.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of having first and a second vehicle accesses for the one or more vehicle levels, wherein the first vehicle access is for ingress of vehicles to the vehicle level, and the second vehicle access is for egress of vehicles from the vehicle level.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first vehicle access is on a first side of the street having a traffic direction flowing into the ingress, and wherein the second vehicle access is on an opposite side of the street having an opposite traffic direction wherein the egress flows into the opposite traffic direction.
 6. The method of claim 4 wherein the vehicle ingress and egress each consume three parking spots on the street.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of identifying a shopping street having crosswalks.
 8. An underpass under a street intersection, comprising: a. a first underground level for pedestrians, accessible by one or more pedestrian accesses from street level; b. a second underground level for vehicles, accessible by one or more vehicle accesses from street level wherein the first underground level enables pedestrians to safely cross underneath the street intersection and contains establishments for the pedestrians, and the second underground level contains a vehicle parking area.
 9. The underpass of claim 8 further comprising tunnels connecting the pedestrian levels of adjacent intersections.
 10. The underpass of claim 8 further comprising tunnels connecting the vehicular levels of adjacent intersections.
 11. The underpass of claim 8 wherein the second underground level is accessed by first and second vehicle accesses, wherein the first access is for ingress of vehicles, and the second access is for egress of vehicles, from the second underground level.
 12. The underpass of claim 8 wherein the pedestrian accesses are selected from the group consisting of ramps, stairs, escalators and elevators.
 13. The underpass of claim 8 wherein the establishments are selected from the group consisting of commercial establishments, educational establishments, community establishments, and entertainment establishments.
 14. The underpass of claim 8 wherein the second underground level has commercial establishments accessible by vehicle.
 15. The underpass of claim 11 wherein the vehicle ingress and egress are on the same side of the street.
 16. The underpass of claim 11 wherein the vehicle ingress and egress are on opposite sides of the street.
 17. The method of claim 8 wherein each of the vehicle ingress and egress consumes three parking spots on the street.
 18. The underpass of claim 8 wherein the one or more pedestrian levels are lined with commercial establishments.
 19. The underpass of claim 8, wherein the one or more vehicle levels have commercial establishments for vehicles.
 20. The underpass of claim 8, wherein the underpass replaces crossing guards and traffic controllers at intersections. 